Wash Day Red Beans

Trinkets's Note:

Long ago women in the Deep South would put on a big pot of red beans on Monday mornings and then go wash the laundry. The red beans would cook, largely unattended, all day and supper was ready when the laundry was done. Here's my version of an all day slow simmering pot of red beans. Depending on the sausage and ham you use you may want to add hot sauce and/or seasoned salt. Serve with rice, corn bread, and a green salad. Some serve with ketchup, hot sauce, butter, and/or olive oil. Enjoy!

• Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 lb dried red kidney beans (Camellia brand if you can find it)
• water
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 onions, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bell pepper, chopped (any color)
• kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 8 cups water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb hot smoked sausage, sliced
• 1 lb ham, cut into bite sized pieces
• 12 ounces fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 10 1/2 ounces beef consomme
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup butter

Directions:

1. Wash and sort the beans.
2. In a large soup pot cover the beans with water and bring to a rolling boil.
3. Turn off the heat and let rest 2 hours.
4. Drain and rinse the beans.
5. Return the beans to the pot and add 8 cups water, salt and pepper to taste and bring to slow boil.
6. In the meantime, saute the vegetables in the olive oil until soft, about 10-15 minutes.
7. Add to the pot and stir.
8. Return saute pan to the heat and saute the meats, adding more olive oil if needed.
9. When the sausage and ham bits are cooked and crisping up a bit add that to the bean pot.
10. Return the saute pan once again to the heat and add the consomme, stirring and scraping up the flavorful bits.
11. Pour all of that into the bean pot and stir.
12. Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
13. Let simmer on low for about 4 hours, stirring occasionally until the beans are soft.
14. I will then mash some of the beans to achieve my desired thickness and then add my secret ingredients: the ketchup and the butter! Shhh.
15. Stir, taste and reseason.
16. Serve in bowls over steamed white or brown rice.